BACKGROUND: Growth hormone (GH) replacement in adult GH-deficient (GHD) patients is reported to have a long-term beneficial effect on muscle mass and function, these effects being greater in young males and in adult-onset compared with those with childhood-onset GHD. To date, more discordant data are reported on the degree of muscle impairment in untreated GHD patients, due to the large heterogeneity of this syndrome. METHODS: Muscle maximum total isotonic strength (ST), lower limb maximum power output (W), maximum aerobic capacity (VO(2)max) and body composition (by tetrapolar bio-impedentiometry) were evaluated in seven short-stature adults with childhood-onset GHD and in seven age-matched normal-stature controls with comparable lifestyle and daily physical activity...

OBJECTIVES: Although the relation between sexual dysfunction, undernourishment and weight loss is clear, amenorrhea sometimes precedes weight loss and may persist despite later weight gain. We therefore studied the variations in anthropometric variables in women with restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN) at the time they recovered their menstrual cycle. METHOD: We undertook a longitudinal study of 40 women with AN. All were in secondary amenorrhea at the start of the outpatient treatment program...

In type 2 diabetes, both insulin resistance and hyperglycemia are considered responsible for autonomic dysfunction, but the specific role of these two abnormalities is not clear. To test the specific role of insulin resistance on autonomic dysfunction, we studied 69 glucose-tolerant offspring of type 2 diabetic patients, comparing the most insulin-resistant tertile (IR) with the most insulin-sensitive tertile (IS) and comparable control subjects, all undergoing the oral glucose tolerance test, impedentiometry, 24-hour blood pressure and ECG monitoring, and an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) followed by a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, with continuous blood pressure and ECG measurements...

The study examined whether indexing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for body surface area is appropriate for people who are severely overweight. Twenty normotensive adult men who were severely overweight but without microalbuminuria were enrolled into this study. The control group consisted of 20 healthy subjects matched for age, sex, and height. GFR was determined by measuring insulin with the continuous-infusion method. The clearance of endogenous creatinine was also measured after two daily urine collections...

AIM: To evaluate the auditive function of a group of critical patients after discharge from an ICU. DESIGN: An audiological screening was carried out 90-120 days after discharge. PATIENTS: Eighteen patients, that had been admitted to a polyvalent ICU for head injury, stroke or complicated neurosurgical procedures. They had all been in a coma. INTERVENTIONS: all the patients had undergone orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation lasting more than a week as well as ototoxic drugs (aminoglycosides and furosemide) administration...

The authors carried out many functional tests on the naso-pharyngo-tubal district in a group of patients affected with cystic fibrosis. The research has included: a clinical otolaryngological examination, Rx study of the paranasal sinuses, rhinomanometric study, mucocialiary nasal test, valuation of the tubal function and impedentiometry. The results have shown a poor correlation between the pathology of the nasal fossae and functionality of the Eustachian tube and middle ear. In order to verify the reliability of the data obtained, the same functional tests have been carried out on a control group of patients suffering from nasal atopy...